Disclaimer: This story is fiction. There are two celebrities who will appear from time-to-time. The other characters are fictitious. Any similarities to persons living or dead are completely coincidental.
In this story, I have continued the adventures of Batman, my Batman, which his story first began in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight" in the Boy Band section of this archive. It spanned 250 chapters. You will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this.
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
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Chapter 35 Digging Deep
"You feel alone," a voice said from the shadows.
I turned and saw the red eyes of J'onn staring back at me from the darkness. He took a few steps forward and the moonlight illuminated his form.
The back of the mansion overlooked a lake. The backdrop was a heavily wooded area giving this place outstanding seclusion from the rest of the world.
"Many times I feel alone," I stated as the Martian moved toward me. "Reading my mind?"
"I've been around long enough to recognize body language. You walk as if you bear the weight of the world alone. But this isn't the case. You have many others who can assist you. If need be, they can take over for you. The stress you feel is that of your own making."
"Okay, now you are reading my mind."
"I am," he stated with a smile.
"I don't know what to do, J'onn. My work has meaning. My home life has meaning. Except now, my partner cheated on me. It feels as if my life has been thrown upside down and I'm left to pick up the pieces. I try to understand Lance's reasons, and I do understand his motives. But having sex with other people, he cheated on me."
"Do you want to make the relationship work?"
"I do, but I don't think it will. We talked about dealing with what happened, but I don't know if I have the strength. I don't know if I have it in me to try and trust him again. I trusted him with my life. And now..."
"Why did he behave as he did?"
"He felt left out. That's what he said. He felt as if he wasn't part of my life. He felt like all he did was for me, not for him."
"Did you demand he perform for you?"
"Of course not!" I said turning to him. "I never demanded he take on my goals! He offered to do what he did of his own volition.
"God, the reason we are in this mess is because he didn't tell me. Have I grown too busy that he could not tell me? How many hours did I spend in his presence at night and in the morning, not to mention working by his side every day that it was never enough time for him to talk? My God, I always say to make the time to discuss things, especially relationship oriented issues. If something was more pressing, we set aside time later to talk. At least, I thought he knew I would do that. He should have known. He should have known."
The tears fell.
"You cannot blame yourself for what happened. If what you say is true, there were plenty of times for him to bring the issue up and discuss it. But he didn't. He made a choice to do what he did. Now is the time for you to make a choice. Do you stay with him and work on what happened? Or do you go your separate ways? Love is a very tricky area when betrayal is concerned. What becomes stronger: love or hurt? I do not envy you your choice."
After a brief moment of thought and silence, I turned to J'onn and asked, "Were you a counselor on Mars?"
He smiled at me again and I patted his shoulder. Then I turned and entered the mansion for sleep.
The next day, J'onn, or should I say John, and I departed for Florida. The trip was uneventful and we arrived safely, unlike the last time when I arrived with Clark.
Lance waited for us at the gate and we exited with our luggage. I introduced John to Lance and vice versa, and then we climbed in the SUV and headed back to the house. Lance told me about what happened to Sarah and I knew it was the vampire Catman who was entering her dreams. He manipulated the present Catman into doing his bidding, using lies and deceit to gain his confidence. It seemed as if he were now trying that with Sarah.
The remainder of the trip was spent talking mostly about John's experiences on Mars and what he endured at the hands of the government. But neither Lance nor I brought anything up about what happened before.
"John, would you be willing to help us?" I finally said as we neared the house.
"Of course, I will help in any way that I can. What is it you ask?"
"There is a being who claims to be the sibling of our children. But he believes that I killed his mother over a decade ago. You can read minds. I would like for you to read his mind and my mind for the truth. If he is telling the truth about being the older brother of Preston and Sarah, I want to know. And I want you to prove to him that I'm telling the truth, that I did not kill his mother."
"I can do those things, but we may need someone who isn't biased in the matter to be an outside source of proof. He may not take my word at all. Do you know of anyone who might be able to prove your stories, someone who has nothing at stake if the truth were revealed?"
I thought for a moment. But nothing was coming to mind.
"What about Preston?" Lance asked. "He can remember everything he experiences. I know he was young when he was with his mother, but there might be a subconscious memory of his older brother. If that is true, John might be able to probe his subconscious and bring to light the past."
"That would prove his status of biological relation to a point," John answered. "But what about proving that you did not kill their mother? Anyone can create a memory and believe it to be true, even if it is not. I might not be able to recognize it if the person has deceived his or her self, unless I probed deeply. But that could cause serious psychological damage. As you can see, risks are involved."
"I know. And there is a lot to lose if it turns out that Catman is Preston and Sarah's brother. They lose a brother, he loses any hope he had of reuniting with his family, and I would have failed Christine," I said. "I've already been proven a failure. I don't want to keep making the same mistake over and over."
The vehicle turned into our driveway and we climbed out. Once inside, I was greeted by Sarah and Preston.
"We're so glad you're safe," Sarah said as she hugged me. "Dad said it was dangerous."
"I'm okay," I answered as I hugged Preston. "I would like for you two to meet the newest member of the team. His name is J'onn Jonnz. He isn't from around here."
"He's from Ohio," Preston said.
"Just recently," J'onn answered. "I was born some place far from here."
He immediately linked our minds and showed us all where he was from. In a brief instant, all of us knew his story. When we were brought out of it, we looked around at each other. Sarah and Preston were easily amazed at what he did.
"As you can see, he's telepathic. He can also shape-shift, fly, phase through things, and shoot beams from his eyes. He is also super strong.
"J'onn also offered to help us."
I explained to the kids what I had in mind concerning whether or not the newest Catman was telling the truth. Preston agreed to the mind probe and, after settling in and Preston preparing his self, we sat down on the couch and began the procedure.
Preston closed his eyes as the alien placed his hands on either side of his head. The texture of J'onn's skin wasn't much different than his own; perhaps a little rougher, but considering all that J'onn went through, it wasn't surprising. His head tingled as the Martian probed deep into his psyche. Before his eyes, his life rewound to its earliest memories. What he was able to catch were images of things he could easily recall: Christmases, school, birthdays, friends, and trips.
I felt myself being pulled into Preston's memories. I saw the images Preston saw of his past. I paid particular attention to Lance and I, how Preston saw us, how we reacted to each other. It reminded me of the love he and I shared, how good it felt to see his smiling face on me and know that he loved and cared for me.
'How could he have done what he did?' I thought to myself.
Just as quickly I came back out of Preston's mind and looked over at Lance who looked at me. The appearance of sadness and apology on his face melted my heart. I knew he truly regretted what he did, and at the moment I knew I would try my hardest to overcome the pain and forgive him of what he did.
Preston and J'onn arrived at a place where before them was black emptiness.
'What's this?' Preston asked.
'Your unconscious,' J'onn answered. The Martian took form beside him. 'Together, you and I are going to peel away the layers of what you saw before you remember.'
'Will it hurt?'
'It shouldn't. It will be disorienting, though.'
Out of the shadows, light reflected off images and slowly objects formed. He saw himself in an office of Department of Human Services. Beside his younger version was the younger version of Sarah. The lips of adults moved, but nothing was heard.
'This must have been before you were placed in the care of Eric and Lance,' J'onn stated. 'We must continue back.'
The scene faded and new images formed. A playground shrouded in moonlight appeared. A picnic table sat off to the side of the equipment. Slowly, a figure dressed in black walked backwards carrying two forms. The figures came into focus and Preston recognized the figure in black as his father, Eric, wearing the bat suit. The mask was pulled off revealing his scarred face and bald head.
'That's my dad,' Preston said.
'This is the first time you met each other, I believe.'
Eric walked backwards to the picnic table and knelt down, turned, and place Sarah and Preston underneath. Then he pulled the mask on, stood, and walked backwards.
'We must go back further,' J'onn stated.
The image faded and suddenly burst into color revealing the same playground just before sunset. Preston and Sarah were playing amongst other children. Then an older, red-headed boy approached. He knelt down and tickled Preston. His lips moved and then Preston's.
'What are they saying?' the current Preston asked.
The sounds faded in and then became background noise as the two voices became more prominent.
"Be careful, Preston," the red head stated tickling the younger boy.
"I will be, Joseph."
The two smiled at each other. Their physical similarities were easily recognizable.
The scene faded yet again and flashed backwards. When it lightened, young Preston and young Sarah were in an old apartment with tattered and torn blankets. At the desk sat a woman with blonde hair, her stomach swollen with child.
"Joseph," she said turning around.
The red-headed boy bound into the room. "Yes, mom!"
"Could you take your brother and sister to the park? Mommy needs to study for her test tomorrow."
"Sure thing, mom," Joseph said. He turned to his brother and sister and gathered them up. The three siblings left the apartment and Christine smiled proudly at her offspring.
The image faded away and Preston came back to reality. His eyes adjusted to his current surroundings and he wiped the tears from his eyes. "I saw her," he said as he turned to Sarah. "I saw our mother. You look so much like her." His hand went up and caressed his sister's cheek.
"Christine," I muttered. "Your mother's name was Christine."
"What happened to her?" Preston asked.
"She was killed by a vampire."
"Who is this vampire?" Sarah asked. I could tell she was ready to kill him.
"Catman, though not the current Catman. The current one appears to be your brother. The killer of your mother has obviously tainted his memory and turned him against me. He does remember you two, though. Maybe I can reach him."
"His name is Joseph," Preston said. "Our brother's name is Joseph."
"J'onn, when he arrives, do you think you will be able to enter both his and my mind and meld what we know of the events of that night. From what he's revealed to me, he believes I killed Christine."
"I will be able to. He may struggle. You should try to convince him that I mean him no harm."
"That will be difficult. Maybe Sarah and Preston can do that." Turning to them, I asked, "Will you be able to put aside what he's been told and get him to trust us?"
"I don't know him," Sarah said. "Preston barely does."
"But he remembers you. Appeal to him as a sister and brother. You might get him to listen."
The two looked at one another and nodded.
After the sun set, something hit the back door catching our attention. Lance and I both stood up and moved toward the door, readying ourselves for whatever was on the other side.
"Don't invite him in," I said as I slid the door open. "If by chance he has become a vampire or it is the original killer of Christine, I don't want him getting in and killing the rest of you."
Lance nodded and I slipped outside.
"I'm here," I called out to the sky. "I have my proof! I know who you are, Joseph! Preston remembered everything!"
The sound of a whip snapping in the air broke the silence. I heard it wrap around a tree branch and stretch as Catman swung down to the patio.
"How do you know my name? And how does Preston remember?"
"I have a friend who can read minds. He was able to unlock Preston's subconscious mind and bring forward the memories of his past when he was a child. I saw you taking care of your brother and sister. I know you love them and you loved your mother very much. I cared about her, too."
"Liar! If you cared about her at all, you would have protected her instead of killed her!"
"I didn't kill her. If you want to see what happened that night, my friend is willing to join our minds so we can see what each other saw."
J'onn stepped out of the house looking human. "My name is J'onn J'onnz," he said and shifted to look like the cross between his Martian visage and that of the human form he created. "I mean you know harm."
I could sense J'onn emanating thoughts of peace and nonviolence, probably to assuage any fear or retaliation Joseph may feel. Joseph believed me to be a demon. No doubt J'onn's appearance could be construed the same way. I wonder if Joseph ever saw the first Catman's true appearance.
"Please, come inside," J'onn continued.
I could see this was a test. If Joseph could not enter the home at J'onn's invitation, he would be a vampire, for only Lance, Sarah, Preston or I could invite a vampire into our home.
Lance stood by the door but stepped back as Joseph approached the door. He hesitated but then stepped into the kitchen. 'He's not a vampire,' I thought to myself.
J'onn entered followed by me, who turned and locked the door behind me. "Joseph, if you please, remove your mask. Nobody here wants to hurt you. We know who you are. There are no masks here."
Slowly, Joseph removed his mask. When Sarah saw his face, her eyes widened in shock.
"What is it?" I asked her.
"He resembles the guy from my dreams."
"What?" Lance said angrily.
"What?" Joseph repeated.
"I've been having dreams of this man. You look somewhat like him, except for the parts that resemble Preston and me. He's been talking with me about being a vampire slayer. I can sense he feels something for me. I've felt something for him; the mystery of him is captivating. But I've always been hesitant. I don't know who I can trust any more, except for my dads."
"Maybe we can settle all of this once and for all," I stated as I sat down on the floor. "If you could link our minds, J'onn, and show us all what each has experienced, maybe we can put this dispute to bed."
The six of us sat down. Lance sat opposite me. J'onn and Preston sat on my left while Joseph and Sarah sat on my right. Reaching out, we held one another's hands and relaxed. Our minds tingled and we plunged into the recesses of one another's mind.
To Be Continued...
What do you think Sarah has been experiencing? What do you think of the story so far? What do you think will happen?